10/10/2024
𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗡𝗙
On October 10 at the CMAS 8th Freediving Depth World Championship 2024, located in the Mediterranean Sea in Kalamata, Greece, 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗸𝗮 (𝗨𝗞𝗥) made history with a dive to 80m (262ft) without fins, setting a new absolute World Record in the Constant Weight with No Fins (CNF) discipline. Congratulations, Kateryna - you did it again!
Kateryna, a former synchronized swimmer, has already showcased her exceptional abilities in water sports before she even began freediving. After winning multiple champion titles at European Championships in synchronized swimming between 2010 and 2014, Kateryna seamlessly transitioned into the world of freediving when she participated in her first freediving competition in 2017.
Kateryna's breakthrough in frediving occurred in 2022 at the CMAS 6th Freediving Depth World Championship, where she dove without fins to a depth of 70m (230ft) and became the CNF World Champion. In 2023, she pushed herself even further, improving her personal best (PB) in the discipline by 8m (26ft) within one competition season, eventually reaching 78m (256ft). This was a significant improvement in the CNF discipline, especially considering the challenges it presents.
Celebrating Kateryna's 78m World Record last year, we expressed hope that her next CNF dive could be 80m deep. And now, it is a 'remember-that-tweet' moment, because just a year later, Kateryna made that dream come true.
At the World Championships, athletes usually announce dives that are several meters shallower than their PB to secure a ranking position and not risk losing out on a medal. This is because they have only one attempt to succeed in each discipline. Kateryna wasn't scared of the harsh conditions of the Mediterranean Sea, its cold water, or the Championship pressure - she not only became a World Champion again but also pushed the world's best result to an incredibly bold depth. Even among the men in freediving, only 17 athletes have ever managed to reach the same depth. Truly mindblowing - congratulations, Kateryna!